Railway-signal



(Modell) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. H. ROTH. Railway Signal. No.241 ,885.

Patented May 24,1881.

Wilqesses.

N. PETERS. HMO-MW Wnhinflan. D. C,

UNITED STATES GUSTAV H. ROTH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAILWAY SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters -S|GNAL.

Patent No. 241,885, dated May 24, 1881.

Application filed J une 30, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV H. ROTH, of Boston, Suffolk county,Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRailway-Signal Apparatus, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to railway-signal apparatus; and it consists,first, in providing at suitable intervals along the road, signalapparatus adapted to show different signals successively, the saidsignals being automatically set in position to indicate danger bysuitable mechanism whena train passes, and then when the train passesthe next signal apparatus the one in question is'moved forward to showanother signal, the different apparatus being so connected in seriesthat as each one is set to danger by the train passing it sets the onebefore to show a new signal, which maybe called No. 1, and this, inturn, sets the preceding one, already showing signal No. 1, to show No.2, and it sets its predecessor to show No. 3, and so on for as many asmay be desired in a series.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a signal apparatusadapted to show a series of different signals in succession, of amechanical motor actuated by a weight or spring, and wound up bymechanism actuated by the passing train, and a detent controlled by anelectro-motor until released by an electric current from the next signalapparatus, when it allows the motor to move the signal apparatus andbring the following signal of the series into view; also, in thecombination, with a clutch-box moved in one direction by a mechanicalmotor, of a signal-disk provided with a series of difierent signals on ashaft provided with a second clutch-box, and with a weight or spring tomove it in an opposite direction to that in which the first clutch-boxis turned by the mechanical-motor; also, in the combination, with aclutch, to be engaged and rotated by a mechanical motor, of a shipper,adapted to be actuated by a passing train, to disconnect the said clutchand allow the disk to be rotated back with the shaft, and mechanism toremove the shipper and allow 50 the clutch to re-engage' when thesignal-disk provided with a cord to trip it and release the has reachedits extreme backward position, in which it indicates danger; also, in ahand-operated signal, to be used in conjunction with the automaticblock-signal, the said signals being pivoted concentrically, and a cordand pulley used to partially rotate the said signal to bring a red ordanger signal into view in front of the automatic signal, and a pawl tohold it in this position, the said pawl being said hand-signal andallowit to be turned back by a spring or weight to again permit theautomatic signal to show.

The invention also consists in placing at suitable intervals automaticcircuit-breaking instruments, containing circuit-breaking surfaces, setin motion by mechanism actuated by a weight or spring wound up by apassing train, a diderent number of breaks in the circuit being causedby the circuit-breakin g surfaces of the difl'erent instruments and thesaid different numbers preferably arrangediu regular order-that is, thefirst station causing a single break, the second a double, thefourteenth a single break followed by a slight pause and then fourbreaks, and so on. Thus, when the train passes each circuit-breaker, itwinds the mechanism, which, in running down, breaks the circuit theappropriate number of times, indicating the number of the station, andthese breaks may, either with or without the interposition of relays,record on any desired signaling-instrument either visual or andiblesignals at any desired station on the road, to thus make known theposition and progress of the train.

The invention also consists in certain details of mechanicalconstruction.

Instruments have previously been used whereby the train in passingoperates a circuit-closer to close or break a circuit a single time, andthe number of such operations indicates the number of stations passed bythe train, or each of the said operations may causea pointer orindicator to advance one step, and thus indicate the advance of thetrain.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a block-signal mechanism embodying myinvention; Fig. 2,' a face view of the signal-disk Fig. 3, a sectional-detail of Fig. l on line as, looking to 100 series of automaticcircuit-breakers to produce' each a characteristic signal when a trainpasses; and Fig. 11 a side view of two of the toothed disks, which, whenproperly placed together, form the characteristic circuit-breakingsurface.

The block-signal apparatus is operated primarily by a lever, g, and armj, similar to that described in another application for United Statespatent, filed March 8, 1880, to which reference may be had. The arm j isconnected by spring j to a winding-lever, q, provided with a pawl, q, toengage a ratchet, r, on a shaft, 1*, and wind up a weight, 20, orspring, the said shaft r being connected by a ratchet and pawl in theusual manner with a whcel,s,loose on the said shaft, to cause the saidwheel to rotate with it as the weight runs down. When the winding-leverq is not pulled down by the armj it is held by the spring against aslot, 21, and in this position the pawl q is disengaged from the ratchetr by the projection (1 on the frame-work, to allow the weight 20 torotate the shaft 1" and wheel a.

A detent-wheel, s is provided with a pinion engaging the wheel 8, andhas a pin, 22, which is held by a detent-rod, 1, supported in positionto engage the said pin by the armaturelever t of an electro-magnet, 1When the electro-magnet is magnetized by an electric current controlledby a circuit-closer at the next station, as hereinafter described, thedetent-rod falls or is depressed by a spring to release thedetent-wheel, to allow it to make one revolution, when, as the saidcircuit is only closed momentarily, the detent-rod z is again inposition to stop it.

The wheel a is provided with a series of projcctions, 23, shown as sixin number, so arranged that they will advance one step at eachrevolution of the detent-wheel .9 to bring one of said projections intothe position previously held by one in advance, and in such movement toengage the end of and depress a lever, u, pivoted at 24, and connectedby a cord, 25, with a pulley, r, loose on a shaft, 1v, carrying thesignal-disk .r, and supported at one end in a bearing, y, in which it isfree to move longitudinally a short distance, and at the other end in aclutch-box, z, loose on the said shaft 20, and itself guided in abearing, 26, which prevents longitudinal movement of the saidclutch-box. A corresponding clutch-box, 26, secured to the shaft 20,engages the one 2 when the said shaft is in its normal position, shownin full lines, Fig. 1, it being pressed by a spring, 27, against thethin portion 28 of a shipper,

The loose clutch-box is provided with a ratchet-wheel, 2, (see Fig. 3,)to be engaged by a pawl, 29, on the loose pulley e, such connectioncausing the rotation of the pulley 'v in the direction of the arrowcaused by the depression of the lever to to be transmitted to theclutch-box z, and by it to the one when in engagement therewith and tothe signal-disk 1 Upon the clutch-box z is a large ratchettoothed wheel,2 having a tooth to correspond to each signal 011 the signal-disk, andthe movement of the lever u is sufficient to move the said wheel forwardone tooth to bring a new signal on the disk into View, after which it isheld by the pawl c so that when the projection 23 has passed over theend of the lever u, and the latter is raised by the spring 30 or weight,the pawl 29 of the pulley c slips over the teeth of the ratchet z intoposition to again move the clutch and signal-disk forward at the nextdepression of the lever to.

The signal-disk shown in Fig. 2 is inclosed in a case having an openingcorresponding in size and position to the circle on the said disk markedit, the said circle being in practice made red to indicate danger. Ateach depression of the lever to the successive circles, marked 1 2 3,are brought into the position shown at R, to be exhibited through theopening in the casing, and the signals will be distinguishable from oneanother, either by color or preferably by numbers, as shown, the onemarked W being white or else open space.

The clutch-box w is provided with a drum, over which is suspended aweight, 31, which tends to rotate the said drum and signal-disk in anopposite direction to that just described as the forward directioncaused by the weight 20 and lever u. The weight 31 is so light as to beovercome by the weight 20 and wound up in what may be called the forwardmovement of the signal-disk.

When the train passes and winds the weight 20, as before described, thearm j also acts on the spring j to depress the shipper w and bring it tothe position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, where it is held by the pawl32 pivoted at 33 and pressed by a spring, 34, to engage the top 35 (seeFig. 3) of the shipper w". W'hen thus depressed the shipper 10 throwsthe shaft 20 and clutch-box w to the left, as shown in dotted lines,disengaging it from the clutchbox :1, and allowing it and the connectedsignal-disk to rotate back under the stress of the weight 31 until, justat the end of the said rotation, the inclined projection 38 on the disk39, carried by the clutch-box w, strikes the inclined end 40 of thereleasing-bar and slides it longitudinally in its bearings 41 42 tostrike a pin, 43, on the pawl 32, and push back the said pawl to releasethe shipper 20 which is then raised by the spring 44 to allow the clutchw z to re-engage. The releasing-bar is flattened at 4.5 to prevent itfrom turning in the bearing 42. (See Fig. 3.)

The backward rotation of the signal-disk, under the influence of theweight 31, is stopped.

IIO

, when in position to display a signal, R, by a pin, 46, (see Fig. 4,)on the disk 39, engaging a stop, 47, pivoted, as shown, to allowitsstopping end a movement equal to the diameter of the pin 46, to thusadmit of a complete forward revolution of the signal-disk before it isagain stopped by the same pin on the other side of the said stop, asshown in dotted lines, the end 40 of the releasing-bar and the inclinedprojection 38 being cut away, as shown at 48, to allow them to overlapwhen they meet in the forward rotation.

The apparatus at all signal-stations is the same, and the electro-magnett is magnetized, to release the detent-wheel s and allow the signal-diskto be rotated to bring a new signal into view by an electric current,when the circuit is closed, from the next signal apparatus by a circuitcloser operated by the signal mechanism.

As herein shown, the circuit is open between the wires 51, and closedwhen the wire 51 is pressed down into contact with the wire 50 by eitherot'the circuit-closers 52 or 53, operated by the disk 39 in its rotationwith the shaft to and signal-disk or.

The circuit-closer 52, pivoted at 54, is provided with a foot, 55, to bestruck by the projection 56 on the disk 39, in the backward rotationthereof, under the influence of the weight 31, and pressed against thewire 51 to close the circuit and inagnetize the clectro-magnet t at thelast signal-station preceding. When the projection 56 passes the foot inthe forward rotation of the disk 39 it merely swings the circuit closeraway from the wire 51, which has no effect on the circuit.

The disk 39 has also on its periphery a series of pins 57, onecorresponding to each signal of the disk a, so placed that each time thesaid disk is moved forward by the lever 20, as before described, to showa new signal, one of the said pins 57 strikes the foot 58 of thecircuitcloser 53 pivoted at 58, and causes it to press the wire 51against the wire 50 to close the circuit. In the backward rotation ofthe disk 39 these pins are moved out of line with the foot 58,andconsequently do not touch it; but the said circuit-closer is not adaptedto be operated except by moving the foot 58 to the left in Fig. 4, ascaused by the forward rotation of the disk 39.

The operation of these block-signals is as follows: A train arrivingfrom the terminal station passes the first signal, which may be calledA, and disconnects the clutch w 2, allowing the signal to be turned backby the weight 31,to exhibit the first or danger signal, It, and at theend of its movementagain allows the clutch to engage, and, at the sametime, the weight 20 is wound up. When the train in its further progressarrives at the next station, or station B, the same operation isperformed, and the said signal B, in turning back to show the signal B,operates the circuitcloser 52 to magnetize the electro-magnet t atstation A, release the wheel S depress the lever a, and move thesignal-disk forward one step to show the second signal, marked 1. Whenthe train arrives at station 0 that signal is set to display R, asjustdescribed, and in so doing operates the electro-magnet at station E,where the signal is advanced from R to 1, as just described for stationA, and in so advancing one of the pins 57 operates the circuit-closer 53to magnetize the electro-magnet at station A and allow the signal to bemoved forward another step-that is, to display the signal 2. Thus, asthe train passes each suecessive signal it sets it to danger, and allthe preceding signals are advanced one step, so that the engineer of anyfollowing train is definitely informed of the position of a train inadvance. Thus, if the signal W or a blank is shown, he knows that fiveor more sections intervene between his train and the one in advance, orif one of the numbered signals is displayed, he knows that the samenumber of sections intervene, and if, as he advances, he finds thesignals in the descending order of numbers, as 4, 3, 2, 1, It, he willknow that a train is remaining, from some cause, in the next section,and will govern his train accordingly.

For single-track purposes an independent signal may be placed in advanceof each station, and may be set ahead from such proceeding station, inthe manner hereinbefore described. for the one in the rear, but in suchsignals the positions of the circles should be changed, the disk beingmoved forward to indicate danger when operated from the proceedingstation, and set back to show a blank or safety when the train passesit.

A hand-operated signaLdisk, 60, is used in conjunction with theautomatic one 00, just described, being pivoted concentrically therewithand provided with an opening which, in nor mal position, allows thesignals of the disk 00 to show through. This signal-disk 60 is connectedwith a pulley, 61, which may be oper ated by pulling the cord 62 toadvance the signal-disk and display a red or danger signal in front ofthedisk ac, and is retained in this position by apawl, 63, engaging thetooth 64. When desired to remove this dangensignal, the pawl 63 istripped by pulling the cord 65 and the signal turned back by the stressof a spring, 66, or weight. The movement of the disk 60 in eachdirection is limited by the stop-pins 67.

Fig. 6 represents the automatic circuitbreaking apparatus, which isoperated by a lever, g, as hreinbefore described. In Fig. 6 the lever isshown depressed by a passing car, It. The arm j is connected by aspring, 7' and cord with a pulley, 70, on a shaft, 71, carrying thecircuit-breaking disk 72, provided with teeth 74, herein shown, spacedto send the signal 14.

A circuit-breaker, 75, pivoted at 76 and normally held by a spring, 77,in contact with a wire, 78, to close the circuit, is provided with apawl, 79, pivoted at 80, its lower end being in position to be struck bythe teeth 74, and free to move to the right independently of thecircuit-breaker 75. \Vhen the train depresses the lever the pulley T0and wheel 72 re rotated until stopped by the pins 82 83, the teeth 74then swinging the pawl 79 toward the right on its pivot St) withoutdisturbing the circuitbreaker 75. In this movement the shaft 71 winds upa spring or weight, which, as soon as the levergis released, rotates theshaft 71 back, and in such rotation the ratchet-wheel 84 thereon engagesthe pawl 83 and rotates the wheel 86 connected with the escapement 57,which gives the shaft Tl a uniform motion. In this uniform backwardrotation the teeth 7-1 pass the pawl 79 toward the left, and move it andthe circuit-breaker on the pivot 76 into the position shown in dottedlines, breaking the circuit between it and the wire 78 once as eachtooth 74 passes, and these breaks, signalized or recorded by anysuitable instrument at any desired station, indicate that a train hasjust passed station fourteen.

The circuitbreaking wheel is composed of two plates, 72 73, the one 72having three teeth and the one 73 one and three to represent thirteen.3y this construction it will be seen that by sliding one plate on theother several other numbers can be formed, as four, six, thirteen tosixteen, and others.

Fig. 10 represents three consecutive signalstations, the circuitnormally passing through the main wire 78 to the circuit-brealu-r T5, incontacttherewith, and connected with the main wire 78, leading to thenext station. The circuit-breaking wheels are adapted to give thesignals 12, 13, 14, respectively, the circuitbreakers being properlyvibrated to break the main circuit 78, in which suitable batteries andrelays may be placed, as will be well understood.

The levers g may be operated in any usual way, as by the wheels; but Iprefer to use a detachable arm, I.', (see Fig. 9,) provided with afriction-roller, It, and adapted to be secured in suitable lugs, It,fastened at a convenient point on one of the vehicles of the train,preferably the last one, thereby properly operating the signals toafi'ord security in case the train breaks apart.

I claim- 1. In an automatic railway-signal system, a series of three ormore signal-stations, each station having a signal apparat us adapted toshow a series of three 01' more different signals, and mechanism,substantially as described, actuated by a passing train to display thefirst or danger signal when a train passes the said station andconnections between the said stations, whereby each movement of a signalat one station causes a corresponding movement in the signal of thepreceding station, and the successive signals of the series displayed ateach station as the train in its progress passes the successive stationsin advance thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A railway-signal apparatus adapted to show a series of three or moredifferent signals in succession, and a mechanical motor therefor woundup by a passing train, combined with a detent controlled by anelectro-magnet and a series of circuit-controlling devices operated bythe apparatus at the next, signalstation, one corresponding to eachsignal thereof, to release the motor and allow it to bring a new signalinto view each time that a new signal is shown at the said next station,substantially as described.

3. A visual signal and mechanical motor to move it to show a series ofdifferent signals thereon in succession, and a rctractor therefor actingin opposition to the said motor, combined with mechanism, controlled bya passing train, to disengage the said motor and allow the saidrctractor to set the signal back to show the first signal of the series,substantially as described.

4. A rotatable signal-disk provided with a series of different signals,a mechanical motor and clutch to connect it with the said disk,to causethe said motor to rotate the disk forward to display a new signal eachtime the motor is released and allowed to operate, combined with ashipper, operated by a passing train, to disengage the said clutch andallow the signaldisk to be turned back under the stress of a retractingweight or spring, and a releasing device to release the said shipper andallow the clutch to re-engage when the said disk has reached the end ofits backward movement, substantially as described.

5. In a railway-signal apparatus an automatically-operated signal-diskprovided with a series ofsignals,to be. successivelydisplayed, combinedwith ahaud-operated signal-disk pivoted concentrically therewith andadapted to be moved to place a danger-signal in front of and to concealthe automatic signal, or to bring an opening in position to allow thesaid automatic signal to be displayed therethrough, substantially asdescribed.

6. A pivoted signal-disk and a pulley on its axis, and a cord upon saidpulley to rotate it and the signal-disk, and a pawl to retain it inposition to display a signal, combined with a cord to trip the saidpawl, and a retractor to rotate the signal-disk back to its originalposition when the pawl is tripped, substantially as described.

7. In a railway-signal apparatus, a series of automatic circuit-breakinginstruments placed at suitable intervals along the road and actuated bymechanism wound by thepassing train, each adapted to cause a definitenumber of breaks in the circuit different from the others, whereby theinstrument operated, and consequent position of the train operating it,is definitely designated by the signal, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

8. The signal-disk and its shaft to rotate forward and backward,provided with a stop-pin to limit its movement in either direction,combined with a stop pivoted to allow the said sig- 5 nal to make anentire revolution, substantially as described. 7

9. A circuit-breaking surface composed of two plates each provided withcircuit-breaking teeth, whereby different numbers of breaks can IO beformed by sliding one plate on the other to cause the teeth of one plateto act with or independently of those on the other plate, substantiallyas described.

In testimony WhereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub- 1 5 scribing Witnesses.

GUSTAV H. ROTH. Witnesses:

J 0s. P.LIVERMORE, G. W. GREGORY.

